How to prepare for a great retirement today

Time is ticking to get ready for retirement. The first step towards a happy retirement is to make sure you get to 65 in good health with plenty of money to spare. Easier said than done, right? It doesn’t matter what age you are right now – whether you’re a spring chicken in his 20s, or over the hill in your 40s. Either way, you can prepare for a great retirement with a little bit of planning.

Health

First up, you’ll want to make sure you reach retirement in good enough condition to actually have a great retirement. Regardless of your body type, you should be exercising regularly to keep your heart (a very important muscle!) in good physical condition.

Eating healthy is another way to prepare for a great retirement. Avoid fad diets – instead, stick to vegetables, fruits, dairy and meat (or a non-meat protein). Water is great for your body has no calories, making it the perfect complement to any meal.

Money

It won’t matter if you make it to 100 years old in great physical health if you end up living in squalor because you have no money. Whatever age you are, take time to save as much money as possible towards your retirement. Look into credit repair services which will help you build your credit and qualify for lower interest rates (which saves you money!). Consider living in an area with a lower cost of living, or downsizing to a smaller home.

Take the money that you’ve saved from these changes and invest it in low-cost mutual funds or ETFs, to ensure your money grows instead of just stagnating in a savings account.

When retirement time hits, don’t go overboard with spending all of your money. Keep a budget similar to what you had before retirement. If you’ve planned right, you will be able to afford decades of retirement spending on your savings.

Too many seniors today are not enjoying their retirements either because they have no money or because they are in poor health. To avoid both of these problems, take time to plan and consider your health and financial well-being now.

Disclosure

The Free Financial Advisor is not an investment advisor and the comments posted herein are opinions of the authors. While they have been professionals at one time, since AverageJoe, Emilie and others are not currently a registered investment advisors or brokers, their opinions should be considered those of amateurs.